Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Feelin' Blue... and Happy About It!

Oh my goodness! What can I say, but... I'm stunned, and oh-so happy! I found two of my quilts in the "Blue Ribbon Room," at our Iowa State Fair!

This afternoon, between 4-7 p.m. was the "Fabric and Threads" department preview at the Iowa State Fair. It's every entrants' opportunity to see the fair display and find out how their entries "faired." 

My first blue ribbon was for this quilt, designed by Kellie Wulfsohn of "Don't Look Now" blog (Australia). It won not only a blue, first-place ribbon, but "Best Wall Quilt," an award given by Des Moines Area Quilters Guild that carries a $25 prize!

Here's that 22" X 28" quilt when I blogged about it in September, 2010.

My "Snowflake Medallion" quilt, a design by Emma Jensen of Ballarat Patchwork (Australia - Do you see a winning theme here?) also won a blue ribbon!

This 77" X 77" quilt represents my best sit-down quilting efforts to date. I owe many thanks to Wendy of IvorySpring blog whose free motion quilting inspired me to try some new things - wool batting and Sulky thread to name two.

Here's the quilt as I blogged about it last month.

My third and last 2010 Iowa State Fair entry was "Supernova," a quilt-along led by Lee of Freshly Pieced. This quilt garnered a fourth place ribbon.

Here's the quilt in its entirety, as I blogged about it in May.

I am extraordinarily happy! I looked through my ribbon box and the last time I earned a blue ribbon for a quilt entered into the Iowa State Fair was back in 2004 for a small batik pineapple wall hanging. It's tough to get into the "Blue Ribbon Room," so I especially cherish these ribbons. But these wins are certainly not about the money! I'll receive $7 for each of the two blue ribbons, and $2 for the fourth place ribbon. Yet, I feel rich!*

Right now I'm feeling very grateful for the creative talents of Australian designers Kellie and Emma, and for Wisconsinite Lee. I don't have a gift for coming up with original designs, but I guess I do okay at interpreting others' designs!

Even more, I am thankful for you my blogger friends. Thirty-one of you took the time to comment, offering encouraging remarks about my Snowflake Medallion quilt. You are truly my best friends! 

*"...but the rich have many friends." Proverbs 14:20b (NIV 1984)

Thank you, thank you! Linda

41 comments:

  1. bethAugust 10, 2011 at 10:37 PM

    Congratulations! Oooh! How exciting!

    ReplyDelete
  2. tammikinsAugust 10, 2011 at 10:40 PM

    Congratulations, Linda! I'm so happy for you - what a wonderful feeling of accomplishment!

    ReplyDelete
  3. KarenAugust 10, 2011 at 10:41 PM

    Linda, I am so happy for you!!! I was just looking at your tree quilt today! I'm starting a new tree and I'm going to try your border idea. I still remember my first blue ribbon and it's a thrilling feeling. Congratulations - you totally deserve it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. PokeyAugust 10, 2011 at 10:46 PM

    You do beautiful work Linda, and are an inspiration to us all. I'm happy for you to receive the ribbons, they are well deserved! Congratulations ~
    :-}pokey

    ReplyDelete
  5. PamelaAugust 10, 2011 at 10:52 PM

    How wonderful! So exciting, and well deserved!

    ReplyDelete
  6. KerryAugust 10, 2011 at 11:25 PM

    WELL DONE, Linda. I'm sooooo happy for you. Not one,but two first places, and another place ribbon as well. Certainly well deserved awards. You should walk around with your chest puffed out, feeling very important, for at least a week!
    Congratulations.

    ReplyDelete
  7. JennyAugust 10, 2011 at 11:43 PM

    How wonderful - you must be so thrilled. It is all that hard work you did, congratulations!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. DiAugust 11, 2011 at 1:25 AM

    Fantastic news, Linda! Of course I'm not at all surprised that your meticulous work has earned you these accolades. Well done, my dear friend, I'm sooooo excited for you :-))

    ReplyDelete
  9. dibraceyAugust 11, 2011 at 1:39 AM

    What a super cleaver vegamite you are. Fantastic work, just love the circular quilting - however way out of my league!! What an achievement - two blue ribbons and also a different coloured one to! So ultra proud of you, well done. Hope you can invest your winnings wisely - be careful. Much love to you, our dear friend, from your "other" Aussie Di. XXX

    ReplyDelete
  10. PinkyAugust 11, 2011 at 2:08 AM

    YAAAAAAAYY!!! I'm so glad!! I think secretly we all knew you were in with a really good chance. The quilting on Snowflake is truely fabulous, so this is very well deserved!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Val LairdAugust 11, 2011 at 2:19 AM

    Told yah! Just KNEW that Snowflake quilt deserved a blue ribbon. Congratulations, Linda. I am so happy for you. Your work is beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  12. MarleneAugust 11, 2011 at 3:36 AM

    Congratulations Linda. How exciting for you. Your quilting is just amazing and well deserving of the ribbons.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Oops-LahAugust 11, 2011 at 4:22 AM

    Well done! You should be proud of yourself. I love all your quilts, but maybe my favorite is the tree quilt. I'm such a big fan of Kellie's designs as well. And I'm also impressed by your quilting.

    ReplyDelete
  14. EmmaAugust 11, 2011 at 5:24 AM

    Congratulations! Your beuatiful quilts are deserving of their blue ribbons!

    ReplyDelete
  15. DoubleLAugust 11, 2011 at 5:27 AM

    woo hoo - go girl. Congratulations - Beautiful work.

    ReplyDelete
  16. KaHollyAugust 11, 2011 at 7:10 AM

    A big congratulations, Linda!! I am so pleased for you. There are some mighty fine designers out there, for sure! Such great inspiration. ~karen

    ReplyDelete
  17. Edith Bieri-HanselmannAugust 11, 2011 at 7:23 AM

    Congratulations Linda! I told you that you sure would win a ribbon. You do so wonderful work.

    ReplyDelete
  18. MayleenAugust 11, 2011 at 8:15 AM

    Congratulations! I love them all.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Stray Stitches (Linda G)August 11, 2011 at 9:19 AM

    Congratulations!!! Those ribbons are very well deserved. Your work is beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  20. StitchinByTheLakeAugust 11, 2011 at 11:14 AM

    Well deserved - but oh so exciting. There's just something about that validation from others that makes it so special. :) blessings, marlene

    ReplyDelete
  21. LeeAugust 11, 2011 at 11:15 AM

    Congratulations!! All three quilts are beautiful, your wins are well deserved! And thanks for entering your Supernova. I'm honored that one of my designs placed! : )

    ReplyDelete
  22. DebAugust 11, 2011 at 11:18 AM

    Congratulations! I have to say that I'm not terribly surprised because after seeing your wonderful work for many years I know that you are a terrific quiltmaker. It must have been a great feeling walking in and seeing those ribbons on your quilts. I'm very happy for you!

    ReplyDelete
  23. CarlaAugust 11, 2011 at 11:37 AM

    Woo Hoo! I'm so tickled for you and see many more prizes for the medallion quilt in your future, Linda! The circle quilting on the tree quilt is so, so great!! A big congratulations to you!!

    ReplyDelete
  24. felicityAugust 11, 2011 at 11:52 AM

    Congrats on your well-deserved blue ribbons!

    ReplyDelete
  25. ~Michelle~August 11, 2011 at 1:25 PM

    YES! Awesome wins :) (and no, the fair prizes are not what makes you enter your projects...not even close, but it's still gratifying!)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Ivory SpringAugust 11, 2011 at 1:31 PM

    Congratulations, Linda! I knew you would win!!! So happy for you.

    ReplyDelete
  27. SueAugust 11, 2011 at 3:55 PM

    Congratulations!! I just knew you would win a ribbon! :) I'm so happy for you. All of your quilts are beautiful and so inspiring. Your quilting must be spectacular up close or 'in real life' as my Grandkids would say.

    ReplyDelete
  28. EmmaTMAugust 11, 2011 at 4:39 PM

    Hi Linda, Congratulations again on your ribbons. I was with my friends Tricia, Veronica, Lisa and Teresa, in the blue ribbon room to say it to you in person, but I want to tell you again that your quilts at the fair were fantastic. I don't get to meet you often because I'm not in the modern guild yet, but I do enjoy reading your blog. Take care, Emma

    ReplyDelete
  29. sandraAugust 11, 2011 at 7:53 PM

    Yahh Linda I just know that you would win ribbons because all you quilts are just so beautiful. Congratulations well deserved.
    Blessings Sandra

    ReplyDelete
  30. JuliaAugust 11, 2011 at 8:12 PM

    Yay..Congratulations, Linda! I'm so happy for you....Well deserved!
    Julia ♥

    ReplyDelete
  31. Sarah @ Fabric SeedsAugust 11, 2011 at 10:45 PM

    Congratulations Linda! That is so exciting!! I've been wondering all week about how you did. I'm so glad to hear about your ribbons. Your quilts are BEAUTIFUL!

    ReplyDelete
  32. LindiAugust 12, 2011 at 1:26 AM

    Woohoo! Congratulations! We said they deserved ribbons, now didn't we? :)))

    ReplyDelete
  33. SueAugust 13, 2011 at 3:57 AM

    Congratulations Linda, How fantastic your wins are. I LOVE your machine quilting. Oh... to get that good. (sigh)
    I won a Blue Ribbon for Hand Quilting, but I doubt I'll ever get one for Machine quilting!

    ReplyDelete
  34. PattyAugust 13, 2011 at 10:40 PM

    congratulations!! I hope to be able to get to the fair this year. Your quilts are wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Quiltin' SandyAugust 16, 2011 at 12:26 AM

    Hi from Australia, Linda! Your quilts are just beautiful. My husband, who has never had the urge to travel overseas, told me recently that he would love to go to the Iowa State Fair!! We saw it on TV and it looks fabulous. :)

    ReplyDelete
  36. AnonymousAugust 16, 2011 at 8:40 PM

    Congratulations Linda, how super exciting for you, and so well deserved. Enjoy the thrill of your ribbons.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Jan QuigleyAugust 18, 2011 at 6:50 AM

    Oh well done Linda, 3 very well deserved wins. I feel very excited for you. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  38. SewjournalAugust 18, 2011 at 7:38 AM

    Congratulations Linda! Four ribbons! Well done and well-deserved.

    ReplyDelete
  39. SherryBAugust 18, 2011 at 4:12 PM

    YooHoo, Linda...I was there last week at the Iowa State Fair, admiring the quilts while my husband was resting downstairs on a bench. I remember taking a picture of your little tree wallhanging (LUV the quilting on it!) and I spied your Supernova quilt nestled in between other marvelous quilts (why they can't make room to spread those quilts out more, I just don't know). I wanted to congratulate you for your hard work on winning your ribbons with such an enormous turnout & stiff competition at the fair. I stumbled across your blog through Lee's freshlypieced blog and about flipped when I saw that little tree wallhanging and just kept on reading!!!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Carrie P.August 22, 2011 at 11:07 AM

    Congratulations! I am so happy for you and you certainly deserved those ribbons.
    Your fair looks like one happening place. Almost 10 miles walking, wow!
    Our fair will be here in Oct. and I will be entering a few things too.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Andie JohnsonAugust 25, 2011 at 9:39 AM

    You are a quilting ROCK STAR! Love your tree mini quilt - the quilting is absolutely sublime. And the colors for the snowflake medallion are so soothing and tranquil. Nice work, ladyface!

    ReplyDelete

I reply to comments! If you are a no-reply commenter, or your profile appears as anonymous, I will reply to you directly on this blog post. Please check back!

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

LinkWithin

Related Posts Widget for Blogs by LinkWithin